Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-28
The Two Assemblies.


which has been in session for several
days in ON aha, has made overtures to
the southern assembly Of the same
church, which has been in session in st.
LOUIS, looking to q union of the two
bodies. These assemblies were separated
during the war, the difficulty between
them having grown out of the slavery
question.
1t is exceedingly unfortunate that dlvi-
sion arose, and II is all the more unfortu-
nate because the prospect for union at
an early date is not very bright. The
war Is dead and slavery is dead, but the
memories of the war still live. 1t is
probable that the Missouri ministers who
fairly treated. The war feeling was
strong there, because Missouri was upon
the Border Out of the differences in
politics grew an ill.feeling which rem.
dered it impossible for the members of
the opposing factions to affiliate.
But that day is 80 far gone that its
memories would probably not have much
effect toward keeping the two assemblies
apart. The Missouri synod, whether OF
constitutes comparatively speaking
small part of the whole The real diff
Guilty in the way of union, it appears, lies
in the fact that the old assembly made
certain deliverances on the subject of
slavery, declaring, in substance, that the
owning of slaves was a sin. This the
southern part Of the. church could not
endorse. The southern members had
own ed slaves all their lives; and, instead
pealed to the bible As authority justify
ing it. They had previously organized Q
general assembly known as the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the Confederate States of America. After
the close OF the war they substituted the
word united" for Confederate in their
name, but, owing to the deliverances of
the northern assembly on the subject OF
slavery, they refused to unite with them.
This is the way the matter now stands
The northern assembly will not retract
whatit said, and the southern assembly
will not consent to union no long as
the old deliveranoes on the subject Of
slavery are not recalled. The southern
members think that to unite under these
circumstances would be to surrender
everything and confess that they were
slavery in the old days before the war.
1t would seem that good way In which
to get around this difficulty would be for
the southern assembly to declare its
position on the slavery question definitely
and then to consent to a union. Ii the
northern assembly would consent to q
union under these conditions, the sit
uation presented would be simply that,
upon the question Of slavery. the two
assemblies had agreed to disagree.
It looks like folly for two bodies of in
telligent men and of processing chris.
tians to stand aloof from each other ON
any such issue as this. Slavery here is
divide christian people in this day. 1t IS
| possible that the southern assembly
would find it difficult at this date to
adopt resolution approving of slavery:
| Surely sentiment IN. condemnation OF
slavery is growing in the south, and the
day may come in which the majority OF
the southern members will be willing to
say to their northern brethern that
slavery was indeed sin. But before
this can be generation born since
slavery was abolished must come upon
the scene.